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Here at a glance are some of the most important differences:

• Under the surface of the program, another program is working, a chess program, an engine. The old Tasc Tutor was not able to play chess, which of course was an enormous failing. Every reply from the user had to be anticipated. The sheer weight of the numbers involved led to there being usually only the answer “The answer is wrong”. Now the response is much more flexible (“The king is in check, but Black still has a move.”) and the computer demonstrates the reply. The user learns much more like that.
• The fact that there is a chess program now makes it possible to employ the knowledge which has just been acquired. Positions can be played out to a finish and even complete games can be played. In Step 1 even a beginner is able to win, because the engine plays badly, yet in an intelligent way. It also sometimes loses pieces and allows itself to be checkmated.
• A special chess program was developed for the games in Step 1: games without kings, trapping pieces, collecting coins, etc.
• Over the years, the print version of the Stappenmethode has also changed. A lot of new exercises have been added to the extra booklets, exercises which are not only useful but also fun. Exercises of this sort (e.g. the route planner) have also been included in the Tutor.
• Every step now contains much more material. Almost every lesson in Step 1 consists of: an introduction, basic exercises, games, extra exercises, tests and the opportunity to play games of chess. All in all, approximately 1700 tasks and 60 learning games.
• Naturally there has been an enormous leap forward in the graphics capabilities of computers. Good use is made of this in the Tutor. Learning is supported by graphic symbols, numbers and letters.